'Punt, Pass, and Kick' Competition

If you're curious about the NFL's Punt, Pass, and Kick competition, you're in for some surprising details. It's completely free to enter, open to boys and girls ages 6-15, and tests three distinct skills: punting, passing, and place kicking. Accuracy matters just as much as distance, since lateral deviation gets subtracted from your score. The best competitors even get to perform at NFL stadiums during televised halftime shows. There's plenty more to discover if you keep exploring.

Key Takeaways

• Punt, Pass, and Kick is a free NFL-operated skills competition open to boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 15.
• Competitors are tested across three events: punting, passing, and place kicking, with combined distances determining overall scores.
• Accuracy matters greatly, as lateral deviation is subtracted from distances, and out-of-bounds attempts score a minimum of zero.
• Winners advance from local events through sectionals and Team Championships, with National Finals held at NFL stadiums and televised nationally.
• Strict rules apply, including disqualification for foot faults, prohibited footwear, misconduct, missing start times, or using non-sponsor-provided equipment.

What Is Punt, Pass, and Kick?

Punt, Pass, and Kick is an NFL-operated skills competition that tests boys and girls ages 6–15 across three events: punting, passing, and place kicking. You compete in separate divisions based on age and gender, with your total score combining distances from all three events.

Measurement accuracy matters because lateral deviation gets subtracted from straight-line distance. If your pass travels 100 feet but drifts 30 feet sideways, you'll score only 70 feet. A minimum score of zero applies if your attempt lands out of bounds.

Venue setup follows consistent NFL standards, with fields marked every 10 feet, a 3-foot center lane for accuracy tracking, and clearly visible boundary lines. Local events advance top performers to team championships, where scores reset to zero for fair competition at the national finals. Students looking to practice their skills can also take advantage of facilities like the Mulerider Activity Center, which offers structured athletic spaces and recreational programming.

If you are unable to find registration or event details online, the page may have been removed or renamed, and you should check the URL spelling or navigate from the official home page to locate the correct information.

Who Can Compete and How the Age Divisions Are Set Up

Whether you're 6 or 15, you're eligible to compete in Punt, Pass, and Kick, with boys and girls participating in separate divisions. The competition organizes participants into five age groups: 6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, and 14-15. Your age is determined as of December 31 at 11:59 p.m. local time of the current year.

Regarding proof of age requirements, you'll need to present a valid birth certificate at check-in. There's no need to worry about participation costs and fees since the competition is completely free to enter. You start at the local level through schools, community events, or football programs.

Keep in mind, you can't play down in age groups, and only first-place finishers advance to the next level. The word "Punt" in the competition's name is itself a disambiguation term, as it is associated with multiple meanings and articles beyond the football context.

How Punt, Pass, and Kick Scoring Works

Once you step up to compete, scoring in Punt, Pass, and Kick combines distance and accuracy into a single number. Officials measure where your punt, pass, or kick first contacts the ground — bounces and rolls don't count.

If your throw lands off-center, measuring accuracy penalties apply by walking the deviation back perpendicularly to the center line and subtracting that distance from how far it traveled. A 100-foot pass landing 30 feet off-center scores 70.

Individual event scoring metrics from each of the three events then combine into your cumulative total. A punt of 40, a pass of 60, and a kick of 22 gives you a final score of 122. You can't score below zero — out-of-bounds attempts automatically receive a zero. If you need further clarification on competition rules, you can always contact the University for additional assistance.

Each contestant receives one attempt per event, so making that single opportunity count across all three disciplines is essential to posting a competitive cumulative score.

How Punt, Pass, and Kick Advances Players to the National Finals

Advancing from your local competition to the National Finals follows a structured path through four distinct rounds. Understanding the qualifying procedures helps you navigate each stage of the competition format effectively.

At your local competition, you must finish as the top scorer in your age division to advance to sectionals. At sectionals, held in October or November, you'll need a top-five finish in your age group to reach Team Championships. Your score resets to zero at each new level.

Team Championships take place at NFL stadiums, where the top four scorers advance to the National Finals. There, 32 finalists—one per NFL team in each age group—compete for national champion status, with the event televised during halftime on NBC in January. The competition is supported by title sponsor Gatorade, along with Hutch, NBC Sports, and Sprint.

The Rules That Can Get You Disqualified

Knowing the rules that can get you disqualified is just as important as perfecting your punt, pass, or kick. Foot fault penalties are serious — stepping over the start line before releasing or contacting the ball results in disqualification. Both feet crossing the line eliminates you from that event entirely. The only exception is place-kicking, where crossing the line is allowed if the tee is on or behind it.

Prohibited footwear violations are equally unforgiving. You must wear soft-sole gym or tennis shoes — no cleats, turf shoes, football shoes, or bare feet. Wearing the wrong footwear gets you immediately disqualified.

Beyond physical performance, your behavior matters too. Misconduct, foul language, or poor sportsmanship results in immediate disqualification. Missing scheduled start times can also make you ineligible, so stay prepared and follow every rule carefully. Additionally, arriving without valid identification means you will not be permitted to compete, as no ID, no play is a strict policy with absolutely no exceptions.

Equipment rules are another area where violations can cost you. Participants are not permitted to use their own gear, as equipment is sponsor-provided and only approved materials are allowed during competition.

Prizes, the National Finals, and What Winners Can Expect

After all the rules, preparation, and competition, here's what you can actually look forward to if you make it to the top. Every Team Championship age-group winner earns the title of NFL team champion.

If you advance to the national finals, you'll compete at an actual NFL playoff game in January — and trophies awarded to all 40 finalists, regardless of where you place.

At the national level, you'll attempt one punt, one pass, and one kick, starting fresh with a score of zero. Your parent or guardian travel with you to the game, so you won't face the moment alone.

The competitor with the highest combined score in your age bracket becomes the NFL Punt, Pass & Kick national champion.